| Since he was a kid, Paulo Camasmie dreamed of making
things. Big things, little things, functional things, things that made
life easier and better. But more than that, he was committed. Committed
to continuing the process of refinement, improvement and growth of everything
he designed. Big Cat is the fruit of that vision.
Paulo Camasmie is that little boy who grew up to be an inspired mechanical engineer and founder of Big Cat Human Powered Vehicles. His early days riding his first mini 5-speed Caloi Road through the hills of Brazil gave him a deep appreciation of quality bicycle design. Riding offroad on his Mountain Bike was an incredible way to get in touch with nature. The only problem was discomfort. In fact, it was a pain… Then it happened. One day in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he saw a retro Diamond Back bicycle. The stylish lines, the relaxed riding position, the COMFORTABLE SEAT… A light went on. Why not combine style, speed AND comfort? A little research revealed a small machine with huge possibilities - the recumbent. Trek was already making the R200 so he figured he was headed in the right direction. More research revealed even more recumbent manufacturers. The concept was brilliant! But, it lacked something… a third Wheel! Trikes were inherently superior. Stable. Elegant. Low-slung. And COMFORTABLE! This was the perfect platform to apply his design and mechanical engineering skills - with a passion. And so, Big Cat was born. Supported by his wife, they packed up all they had and headed for America. The market was already more advanced and was ripe for new ideas and products. Surprisingly enough, when they got here, they met some people who were just as crazy about recumbent trikes as he was. Way back in the year 2000, Paulo took his dream of building an affordable, world-class recumbent trike to a custom fabricator in Southern California - Steve Delaire of Rotator - and his dream took shape. Together, they built the very first Big Cat to hit the road. The C2000. However, it wasn't long before they realized that co-development was a daunting feat, especially when Paulo had relocated his shop to Orlando, Florida. Sadly, the long-distance logistics proved overwhelming and they decided that the best thing to do was build their businesses independently. Paulo's first independent prototype was a dramatic improvement over the C2000 and had standard items that are still on Catrikes today. It was already lighter and elegantly sophisticated. But, it could be better. Aluminum, aluminum, aluminum! More than that, Catrike had begun to establish a corporate mindset, unique to the industry. Good enough is not good enough. Quality before cost. Efficiency equals more for less. Compare ourselves - to ourselves. Engineering is the key. Today, the dream has grown to where Catrikes are scattered around the world and more than 100 are flying out the factory door every month! Only in America can a man with a dream, talent and desire start in a garage and in three short years become the largest recumbent trike manufacturer in the world. And the dream goes on… |